Gate latch



March 9, 1954 B. HEYMAN ET AL GATE LATCH Filed May 10, 1951 yrrmu IN VEN TORS flan 4mm j/a BY F'ranns K g IITTORNEXS Patented Mar. 9, 1954umrso PATENT omcs GATE LATCH Benjamin Heyman, Baltimore, and Francis K.Bead; r kesvi e; M a s t s t An hq'r ost Products, Inc'.,; a corporationof New Jersey Appli ation May 1951, Serial No- 225,592 6 Qleims- 2 2-.

This invention relates to a gravity-actuated gate latch which looks in auniform and positive manner as the gate is closed.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a rotatively mounted gatelatch of simple and economical construction With a striker which hitsthe latch'and lifts it up as the'gate is closed. Gravity then makes thelatch fall back over the striker to lock the gate. Uniform and positivelocking is insured by a cam or projection on the latch whicl'i'contactsthe striker and assists gravity in closing the latch. Thiscam soaccelerates locking action that the latch is closed beforthe striker canrebound and escape the latch even when the gate is slammed shut.

The nature of this invention may be readily understood. by reference tothe example shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a topplan view of our improved gate latch; Fig. 2 is a front elevational viewtaken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing thecamming action of the latch, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing aform of gate latch as ap lied to a double-swing gate.

In the drawings, latch ill is rotatively mounted by swivel bolt I2 on adoor frame or stationary gate post M. As best shown in Fig. 1, freerotation of latch ill about swivel bolt [2 is insured by spacer bushingI6 and washers l8. Bushing l6, tightly fitted in latch I0, is ofsomewhat greater length than the thickness of the latch and its insidediameter is greater than the diameter of bolt I2. Thus washers I8 areheld away from latch l0 and bolt i2 may be drawn tight without bindingthe latch. The top portion of each end of latch it is flared to form apair of operating handles 26 and 22 provided with stop faces 24 and 26.These stop faces make contact with post 14 and keep rotation of latch inwithin working limits. Latch It has most of its weight to the left ofswivel bolt l2 and thus stop face 26 ordinarily makes contact with gatepost M. This holds latch Ill approximately horizontal in readiness toreceive striker 28 (see Fig. 2).

Striker 28 is securely mounted on gate post 30 as by bolt 32 so that itwill engage notch 34 of latch It for locking the gate. In the example ofour invention shown striker 28 has lateral extensions 3B and 33 oneither side of gate bearing surface which grip post 30 and provide afirm support for the striker (see Fig. 1).

When the gate is closed, striker 28 hits in clined surface 42 of latchID. This lifts latch Ill and gravity then tends to close it, to lockstriker 28 in notch 34. To insure positive action of latch lil, we.provide it with a'projection or cam face 14, When latch' lilis lifted,cam 44 extends beyond the limits of post It where striker 23 hits it toass g t f clo i g the la h se la T This prevents any tendency for thegate to bounce open because "striker 28 cannot rebound until afterlatchl fi i sc losed. I l

The gate may be conveniently opened from either side of the fence withhandle 2i) or 2 2.

-, Hole {25in latch Hl'i'sadapted to receive apa dr lock shackle or thelike which prevents lifting thelatch. H

Inthe form of our invention shown in Fig. 51 the left gate member 48'carries striker 50, similar to te i s sel cted. and th r h gate member'52 carries latch 54 corresponding to can" e e mica were 19 brackets 58on gate member '52,i's positioned with handle 6i! immediately belowlatch 54 where it will not interfere with the latch. Drop bar 56 extendsinto a usual well 62 to hold gate member 52 closed. Latch 56 has a hole64 corresponding to hole it to be used for locking the gate shut.

When gate member 43 is closed, the gates are locked and drop bar 56 isalso looked in well 62. The drop bar cannot be turned because of gatemembers 48 and E2 and it cannot be lifted because it hits striker 56. Asshown in dotted lines, drop bar 56, when not in use, may be convenientlyplaced behind projection 66 of latch 54 where it is held out of contactwith the ground. If desired, the bar may be dropped at any time to holdgate 54 in an intermediate position.

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes andmodifications of the preferred embodiment of this invention hereinchosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a latch member of the type described including a post for mountingsaid latch member and a swinging gate with a striker thereon, thecombination of a latch member adapted to cooperate with the striker forlocking the gate, a notch in the lower face of said latch member nearone end, said notch having a surface wall which lies in a substantiallyvertical plane taken through the width of the latch member when saidmember is in position to receive the striker, an inclined surfaceextending upwardly from said notch, means for rotatively mounting thelatch member, said inclined surface being adapted to cooperate with thestriker to lift the latch.

member whereby the striker is locked in said notch as the gate is closedand said latch member having its top portion at each end flared to forma pair of operating handles which extend outwardly from the body of thelatch member at an approximate right angle for operating the latchmember on either side of the gate, said handles being adapted tocooperate with the latch member mounting post to limit rotation of thelatch member and keep it within working limits.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which the latch member has acam surface associated with said notch and adapted to cooperate with thestriker to assist in closing the latch member.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1 in which the mounting meansinclude a bushing of slightly greater length than the thickness of thelatch member adapted to cooperate with a bolt for mounting the latchmember whereby the bolt may be drawn tight without binding the latchmember.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1 which includes a projectionextending upwardly from the top of said latch member, said projectionbeing adapted for receiving a hasp to prevent lifting the latch.

5. In a device of the type described the combination of a latch memberand a drop bar adapted to cooperate with a striker for locking a pair ofswinging gates, a notch in the lower face of said latch member near oneend, said notch having a surface wall which lies in a substantiallyvertical plane taken through the width of the latch member when saidmember is in position to receive the striker, an inclined surfaceextending upwardly from said notch, means for rotatively mounting thelatch member on one of the gates, at stop to limit latch rotation, meansfor slidably mounting the drop bar on the same gate below the latchmember, said drop bar being adapted to hold the gate in a set position,means for mounting said striker on the other gate in position tocooperate with the inclined surface of the latch member to lift thelatch member whereby the striker is locked in said notch when the gatesare closed and said drop bar having a handle positioned adjacent to thebottom edge of the locked striker which prevents lifting the bar.

6. A structure as specified in claim 5 which includes a projectionextending upwardly from the top of said latch member, said projectionbeing adapted for receiving a hasp to prevent lifting the latch memberand for carrying the bar when it is not in use below the striker.

BENJAMIN HEYMAN. FRANCIS K. READ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 46,653 Fosdick et al. Mar. 7, 1865 168,525 Peterman Oct. 5,1875 482,246 Hagee Sept. 6, 1892 557,578 Green Apr. 7, 1896 844,907Aikin Feb. 19, 1907 1,284,237 Carll Nov. 12, 1918 1,936,921 Strid Nov.28, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 779,411 France Jan. 14,1935

